Posted 1/7/2013 4:40 PM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone!
I’ve been lurking here for a long time.
This is my first post.
Today, January 7th marks three years since my daVinci RP surgery. I was 52 yr at the time.
A sizable jump in PSA levels was caught during a yearly physical in August of 2009. I don’t remember the stats at the moment. I think my PSA was at 3.8. Would that be right? A biopsy a month later confirmed cancer in its very early stages. After weighing the options presented me I was convinced that robotic surgery was the way to go. My main concern was ED and I was told that at my age I should have no problem recovering in about one year. I was doing just fine in that department prior to surgery.
I don’t have to tell anybody here what a roller coaster ride of emotions I’ve been on.
When I hit the one year mark and still had nothing down there, I went from panic to depression to anger. I was still dealing with some incontinence also. The clinic set me up for bio feedback sessions to help with my leaking. It helped me a lot. I still do kegals every morning and only have minor problems.
Every four months I meet with a physician’s assistant who is trying to move me onward and upward with my ED issues. I’ve gone from Cialis to Levitra and Viagra and back to Cialis. I’m doing the 5mg daily tablets now days. The clinic has been giving me lots of samples and without their help I could not afford this.
At the one year mark I tried Bimix injections. My first injection at home almost had me going to the emergency ward. You know the party guests that won’t leave your house at the end of the party? Well….that’s what it felt like. I can joke now. I had my coat on and car keys in hand when I believe sheer terror set things right. After that, adjustments were made and I used the rest of the Bimix up. It worked, and maybe gave me a jump start because I started to see signs of live shortly after. I stopped using the Bimix for now.
This summer I got to the point where, with some patience, I can get hard enough for intercourse with just the Cialis. That’s two and a half years out! I thought I was toast at the two year mark so I am thankful that they have not given up on me. We’ll see if I continue these baby step improvements. I meet with the physician’s assistant again in four months.
I have a PSA test on Thursday and my three year post op meeting with my surgeon next week. So far I am in the PSA zero club.
Wish me luck as I will wish you all the same.
If you made it down this far, thanks for letting me get this off of my chest.
Mark